We Cannot Outdo God
There are times in our lives when we face challenging difficulties and have tough decisions to make. Succeeding or failing depends upon whether we stand up and trust that God will help us meet those challenges head-on and make the right decision, or whether we let those challenges set us back and leave us in a downward spin for years because we chose to handle it our way.
We may have our God-given abilities, but no matter what we may attempt to do to get out of a difficult situation, we will always find out that we cannot outdo God. Why does God allow us to go through tests and trials? It all comes down to obedience and trust. From the time of man’s creation, God has expected our obedience and trust. We can find how valuable it is for us to fulfill these expectations in this command and promise:
“Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”
(Psalm 55:22)
Righteousness
Before we address the first part of this verse, we must consider two important words in the last part, “the righteous.” Although God does take care of everything He created, He has a special care for the righteous. Righteousness can only come to us through the Holy Spirit at the moment we receive salvation. At that moment, we meet God’s standards of righteousness and must maintain that standard that requires holy living, free from sin. Sometimes believe righteousness is obtained by only doing what is right and good, but scripture informs us that our righteousness is as filthy rags.
“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” (Isaiah 64:6).
Outward works done religiously are meaningless to God and are done in vain. When we live righteous in Christ and not of our self-righteousness, we can hear God’s voice, crucify our pride, and respond to him saying, “Whenever you send me lord, I will go.” A righteous individual is not out to make a name for himself. He recognizes that he must continuously do the will of God, not his will nor the will of man.
“Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.” (John 4:34)
Your Faith Must Reach Beyond Your Ability
The first part of Psalm 55:22 assures the righteous that if they give God their burdens, He will sustain or keep them, and help them stand firm in their faith in him. You may not immediately get out of what you are facing, but while you go through it, God will sustain you. How?
When your burdens weigh you down, God will extend a rope or lifeline of grace and mercy that will be strong enough to hold you until your faith meets his righteousness. Your faith must reach beyond your ability and look to God’s ability to transform, mold, and shape you to his standards; the purpose of why He allows burdens to come your way.